Job 5:12 (KJV)

What does Job 5:12 mean?

Job 5:12 says that God frustrates the plans of people who think they are clever or crafty, so that they cannot carry out what they intended. The verse highlights how human schemes, no matter how carefully made, can be stopped by God.

In this part of the book of Job, Eliphaz is speaking to Job, trying to explain how God deals with those who act with cunning or deceit. Eliphaz is saying that God does not let the plans of the "crafty" succeed, suggesting that God is just and actively opposes those who try to get ahead through trickery.

The Hebrew behind Job 5:12

• "disappointeth" (פָּרַר, parar): This word often means to break, frustrate, or nullify. Here, it shows that God actively undoes the plans of the crafty, not just passively allowing them to fail.
• "devices" (מְזִמָּה, mezimmah): This word refers to plans, schemes, or intentions, often with a sense of cleverness or even scheming. The verse points to people who rely on their own shrewd thinking.
• "crafty" (עָרוּם, arum): This word means shrewd or cunning, sometimes with a negative sense of being sly or deceitful. The focus is on people who use their intelligence for selfish or dishonest purposes.
• "enterprise" (תּוּשִׁיָּה, tushiyyah): This word can mean wisdom, sound advice, or success in carrying out plans. Here, it is used to show that the crafty cannot bring their clever ideas to completion.

Why Job 5:12 matters

• Job 5:12 clarifies that, in the worldview of Job's friends, God actively opposes those who use their intelligence for selfish or harmful ends, rather than simply letting events unfold.
• The verse emphasizes the limits of human wisdom and planning when set against God's greater power and justice, which is a recurring theme in the book of Job.
• Understanding the original words helps show that the verse is not just about any plan failing, but specifically about the frustration of plans rooted in cunning or deceit.